The "Pre-Action protocol for the construction and engineering disputes (J109141) (the Protocol) came into force October 2000 and applies to all construction and engineering disputes (including professional negligence claims against architects, engineers and quantity surveyors). Evaluates how the Protocol is working and how it affects the treatment and conduct of cases in court. Based on the results of a questionnaire on the Protocol sent to members of the Technology and Construction Court Solicitors' Association. The Protocol came about as part of Lord Woolf's "Access to justice: final report to the Lord Chancellor on the civil justice system in England and Wales" (ISBN 0113800991) and the development of pre-action protocols. The aim of pre-action protocols is to expedite disputes by getting the parties to define and narrow the issues before proceedings were issued. Concludes that the Protocol is working well in practice but there are some areas that are open to abuse or where dissatisfaction has been expressed.